Rajasekhar had an important client meeting and actually he had wanted Sudhir with him. But Maheswari suggested since Rajasekhar is not there and Suman's parents are coming it is better Sudhir be there to welcome them. Tilak could not be spared as he already had lot of work pending with checking the stocks and since the festival season was still on he had to close it. So Rajasekhar decided to go alone for his client meeting.

It was just before lunch Bhavani and Virender Rajput came. Sudhir welcomed Virender by touching his feet telling his father had such an important meeting which couldn't be avoided apologizing on his behalf for not being there. Virender blessed Sudhir. Sudhir also touched Bhavani's feet and she too blessed him.

" No no Beta Rajasekharji should not keep important meetings at bay for us. We understand " told a smiling Virender

Bhavani looked at his husband. No one could tell from outside what a monster he was inside. She sighed as Maheswari welcomed her

" Come come Bhavaniji, it is so nice to see you again. Hope you will go only after lunch "

" Maheswariji we don't take food from beti's sasural " told Virender

" Uncle let us not be very formal. Those are old habits. You are like extended family for us. Maa, Vindhya, Suman and Renu Bhabi have prepared special dishes since you are coming " told Sudhir.

" Beta but .." told Virender

" Uncle if you call me Beta you will have to listen to what Beta is telling" he smiled

" Yes yes now you have trapped me. Maheswariji we will have lunch. So Sudhir how is business going generally"

Sudhir settled into a chat with Virender as Bhavani moved in with Maheswari.

Suman rushed into her mother's arms seeing her . " Maa how are you"

Bhavani looked at her daughter. Her white dress without any sringaar. But she could see her daughter's eyes were not dead. They were alive. As if some beacon of hope was given to her.

" Suman look you like Malpau and Rabdi right. See I have bought them for you". She thrusted a big box in Suman's hand

" Auntiji only for Suman. We are also there" came Vindhya in her usual laughing tone

" No no Vindhya beta. It is for everyone. I hope everyone likes it. It is Suman's favourite though"

" Maheswariji where is your son. I mean Sreedhar. I don't know what he likes. But I have bought Mothichur laddoos for him" Bhavani held another big box

" Maa he cannot eat such things. He has been discharged from hospital only yesterday " told Suman

" You keep quiet Suman. Nothing will happen if he eats one ladoo made by me. See your saas doesn't say anything" told Bhavani

" Bhavaniji Suman is taking care of Sreedhar's food. I have given that responsibility to her and she is very particular about his diet. I gave her because if anyone of us are harsh on him, he will do his tevar and escape. With her, he listens"

" Maheswariji you shouldn't give such tasks to her. She takes them quite seriously. Just like her dance and embroidery, mehendi design etc she takes them also to perfection. But human is not cloth or mehendi cone to monitor like this . Suman he is your devar. Havent you seen how your other bhabi's are dealing with him. Learn to be a little more caring " told Bhavani

Suman could see Vindhya Bhabi chuckling and she didn't know what to tell her mother. She told in mind " So Maa you don't remember the name I told. One way it is good"

" Bhavaniji I can trust her with any task. She does it earnestly. And she doesn't deal with humans like a piece of cloth. Just talk to my grand daughter Namrata when she is back from school. She will chat for 1 hr about her chachi" told Maheswari

" Suman take me to your devar. Let me meet him" told Bhavani

" Come Maa" telling she took Bhavani to Sreedhar's room. Maheswari told Vindhya and Renuka to arrange table and help her in kitchen with lunch preparation.

Sreedhar was reading book as they entered. He tried to get up. Bhavani rushed to his side.

" No no beta. Don't get up. Take rest. You don't need to show formality"

" No aunty. It is not right. It is not that I am bed ridden. I am fine" he got up and touched her feet. She blessed him " May all your wishes come true beta"

Bhavani didn't know why she was feeling so much attached to the boy. It was as if she know him somehow. There was a gentleness in his smile. She took a ladoo from the box and held to him

" Beta I don't know what you like. This I have made. You will eat right"

Sreedhar looked at Suman " Sumanji shall I.. "

" Don't look at her beta. You eat. If you want one more, I will give "

Suman giggled as she nodded " Eat Sreedhar, I don't think I can stop Maa from pampering you today"

Bhavani happily fed 3-4 ladoos to him " Beta you were not there for the wedding right. I am seeing you for the first time. I don't know beta how should I thank you for doing what you did to Suman. As a mother I will be always grateful to you for protecting her " Bhavani's eyes were teary and she tried to fold her hands.

Sreedhar held her hands " Aunty what are you doing. On one side you are calling me beta , feeding me ladoos and on other side folding hands.If I am your beta treat me like one. Sumanji came to protect me and I felt it was my duty to protect her from the unfair accusation that is thrown at her. There is nothing to be grateful about it. I was supposed to do it. That is what my Maa has taught me." Bhavani caressed his hair

The moment was interrupted as Sudhir entered the room with Virender. Suman moved towards the side of the room seeing her father and Bhavani got up and went near her.

Both men looked at each other. Virender's eyes were taking every information about the man in front of him and Sreedhar was looking back at Virender with equally piercing eyes. Sudhir told " Uncle sit, he is still taking rest "

" But I suppose Rajasekhar Varma's son has not forgotten tradition or formalities " told Virender

" I have not uncle. Just need some time" Sreedhar got up and touched Virender's feet. Virender blessed him.

" You call her Suman" asked Virender

Sreedhar and Sudhir were startled for a second. Sreedhar told " I call her Sumanji, not Suman"

" Sumanji, why Sumanji is that how you call your other bhabi's Renukaji, Vindhyaji. Why don't you call her bhabi. Isnt calling Sumanji a disrespect of tradition and an anomaly Sreedhar " he looked at Sreedhar sharply

" Uncle I am not sure whether calling her Sumanji is anomaly. But I found out it a very big anamoly that after being a widow she didn't want to go her maayka, but stay in her sasural " Sreedhar returned the look

" Uncle Sreedhar was not there for the wedding. We had not informed him of Murali's death as he had gone for the conference. So when he came back Murali's death was a shock to him as he and Murali were very much attached. Also for him given the circumstances Suman was not part of the family as he knows it , before the relation could be established, the connecting link was broken. So he treats her as an extended family member which my Maa has kept here and calls her respectfully" told Sudhir to reduce the heat that was getting generated

" Sudhir beta your brother's blood is very hot. In this age people have a tendency to get on to things that can make them instant heroes. Teach him to be well mannered like you" told Virender. Sudhir signalled Sreedhar to be silent.

" You had gone for US conference. What were you presenting " asked Virender

" I had presented on post liberalization India, changes in economy, changing the lives of average Indian"

" What changes you have foreseen young man. That traditions will be questioned " told Virender. Sudhir was not sure where the conversation was going. For some reason Virender Rajput was hostile with Sreedhar and Sreedhar on his part was aggravating it with his answers. Sudhir could feel his brother's suppressed anger coming through his words.

" Uncle I have not told traditions wont exist. But I have told about exisiting power structures going and new power structures coming. IT is going to be the face of Indian economy and Banglore is going to drive this growth in India. IT will give freedom to woman to take decision independantly as IT is going to open the doors for employment for woman giving her financial independence. With that a host of other services will be launched that will specifically target the lady population in our country. So our culture will have to tune towards woman who are going to be the master's of their destiny. This is just a part, I have also talked about education helping people who are marginalized at this point to have a voice as IT penetrates deep into our life"

" Theory looks good young man. Would you have a independent thinking wife, working wife and a woman who talks in equal terms with you "asked Virender.

" Uncle my mother runs this home efficiently. I have seen her managing us for 4 brothers, our father,taking care of elders, dividing work between by bhabi's and also involve in all the traditional activities. She is an excellent manager. My 2 Bhabi's manage multiple things at home. Sumanji is now teaching dance and her painted and embroidery sarees has many takers in the community itself. So after seeing this many empowered woman at home who does have their voice, still respect traditions why I should be worried about an independent woman. If she is educated, empowered it is good for both family and business. If a woman can manage home she can manage outside world also.Sumanji behind you in the cupboard on the top right hand corner, I have kept a bunch of paper pinned. Please give that to Uncle"

Suman took the bunch of paper as requested and read the title " Excerpts from Narayana Murthy's talk on Banglore All India Youth Economic forum summit "

" That itself Sumanji. Give to uncle. Uncle just read it. Mr Narayana Murthy is one of my role model"

Sudhir exactly knew what his brother was upto. And since he didn't want to aggravate the situation by making Virender read the notes he told " Sreedhar leave your notes. Uncle I guess it is time for lunch"

" Yes yes beta. We also have to return " told Bhavani joining Sudhir. But Virender took the notes. He will read. He will read what this boy has written and his so called theory of woman independence and what Mr Narayana Murthy has done.

As he walked out of the room, Suman looked at Sreedhar, her face grim and accusing, he just smiled and winked.